Having apologised for his previous outburst, Pacquiao, then took to Instagram to post a biblical quote.

Citing Leviticus 20:13 from the Old Testament, he wrote: "Do not have sexual relations with a man as one does with a woman; that is detestable ... If a man has sexual relations with a man as one does with a woman, both of them have done what is detestable. They are to be put to death; their blood will be on their own heads."

ABS CBN news reported that the post, in which the 37-year-old boxer is pictured with his wife, Jinkee, attracted 18,000 likes before being removed, having been online for two hours.